The History Division welcomes panel proposals for the 2025 AEJMC conference in San Francisco, Calif., August 6 – 10. The theme for next year’s event is “Leading in Times of Momentous Change: Individual and Collective Opportunities.” Panel proposals can be submitted via this link.

The History Division is one of the original divisions of AEJMC, having been established in 1966, and supports research into a variety of topics related to the journalism and mass communication industry, including but not limited to:

• the newspaper industry (newspapers, editors, publishers, and reporters)
• the broadcasting and cable industry (individual networks, stations, anchors, and reporters)
• photojournalism and photography
• advertising (advertising agencies, practitioners, campaigns)
• public relations ( agencies, corporations, campaigns, practitioners, techniques and tactics)
• media technologies (computerization, emerging digital technologies, and the early Internet)

Some History Division members focus on the history of media relationships with the government and other power-wielding entities, and some members focus on the histories of technologies from the printing press, the telegraph and the typewriter, to the Internet, while others focus issues of culture, power, and longstanding inequities around race. 

The History Division generally accepts and hosts or co-hosts three types of panel proposals each year: Professional Freedom & Responsibility (PF&R), Teaching, and Research. 

PF&R panel proposals should in some way address the relationship between journalism history and society. PF&R panels also offer opportunities to bring media professionals and practitioners into AEJMC.

Teaching panel proposals should address topics related to curriculum development and course design, practical suggestions and recommendations that can be implemented in the journalism history classroom, or philosophical and pedagogical areas that impact teaching.

Research panel proposals should take a broad view and address topics core to researching journalism history, as well  as journalism history’s relationship to the broader field of communication and the academy. 

How to increase the likelihood your panel is accepted:

1. Collaboration

Most, if not all, of our panel discussions, are co-sponsored with other divisions or interest groups. Consider topics that will engage other divisions and attract attendees when planning proposal content and panelists. A list of AEJMC divisions and interest groups can be found here or at http://www.aejmc.org/home/about/groups/ 

2. Specificity

The more you can describe the session flow, topics covered, role of participants, materials covered or distributed to attendees, or attendee take-away learning outcomes, the easier it is to evaluate your proposal. Securing commitments from participants is crucial to the success of our panels.

3. Diversity

This is a critical component. We encourage you to work toward as much diversity as possible within your panel. The more diverse the panelists’ backgrounds, the greater the likelihood of your proposal being accepted. Think in terms of ways to highlight a wide range of voices and diverse perspectives.

4. Remember: A panel is not an opportunity to merely present a paper

While some referenced research is certainly acceptable, these panels are to encourage dialogue, debate, and forward-thinking discussion. You may also consider developing a panel that engages local media professionals and academics in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Please craft panels that address wide ranging interests and invite discussion, reserving the submission of research manuscripts to the regular call for papers.

Proposals must include:

1. A tentative panel title and the type of panel (teaching or PF&R) proposed.
2. A brief description of the panel, including the key issue(s) or subject matter to be addressed by the panelists (250 words). 
3. A rationale for why the panel is proposed and how the panel is relevant to History Division conference attendees (250 words).
4. At least one suggestion of a co-sponsoring AEJMC division or interest group.
   Note: DO NOT contact the proposed co-sponsoring Division or Interest Group at the time of submission.
5. The names and short bios of potential panelists and a moderator and their affiliations and contact information (mailing and email addresses, and telephone numbers).

Some important considerations:

1. When suggesting panelists, submitters are encouraged to incorporate diverse voices, paying attention to the race and gender of presenters. In addition, think about the types of schools represented on the proposed panel and the position/rank of presenters. Would the panel be strengthened by adding a graduate student, a term (non-tenure track) professor, industry/professional experts, or a colleague who has expertise on the topic but doesn’t normally attend AEJMC? Drawing on a wide range of sources helps produce innovative and inclusive panels that share new ideas.
2. Submitters should indicate whether or not they have contacted potential panelists about their willingness to participate, provided the panel is successfully programmed into the conference. Note that potential panelists and moderator do not need to be confirmed at the time of submission.
3. A point-of-contact (typically the panel proposer). Please include your name, mailing address, e-mails, and telephone number.